Ball joint construction



Oct. 25, 1966 F. 1.. TRUAX ETAL BALL JOINT CONSTRUCTION Filed April 23, 1964 i llllllk INVENTORS. FRANK LTRuAX and ALBERT J. KuRKER KI/lorne 9s United States Patent 3,281,590 BALL JOINT CONSTRUCTION Frank L. Truax, 3711 N. Drexel Ave., and lbert J. Kurker, 4750 Central Ave., both of Indianapolis, Ind. Filed Apr. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 362,073 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-144) The present invention relates to lamp shade holders.

Various types of lamp shade holders have been designed for insuring and providing complete adjustability of the lamp shade relative to the lamp. For example, the purpose of one type of adjustable lamp shade holder is to permit adjustment of a lamp to a position in WhlCh it is aimed at the most appropriate angle for reading. A further problem existing in this field is the unesthetic appearance created when a lamp shade is struck or moved askew relative to the lamp. This latter situation is particular evident in the homes of those having young children and requires readjustment which at times can become involved and time consuming.

Consequently, an important object of the present invention is to provide a lamp shade holder which is selfadjusting so as to return the shade to an upright position when it is knocked or moved from that position.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved lamp shade holder.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention might include a lamp having a harp, a lamp shade including a portion coupled to the harp for free relative rotation of the lamp shade and harp. The lamp shade has a center of gravity which is located below the coupling of the harp and shade whereby when the shade is moved and released, it returns to its original position.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a lamp embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the view of FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of a still further alternative embodiment of the invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a lamp having a lamp shade 11 mounted thereon. The lamp 10 includes a harp 12 which, in similar fashion to conventional lamps, is fixed to the base portion 15 of the lamp 10 and includes an upper generally horizontal portion 16 upon which the shade 11 is mounted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the harp 12 may be formed from a long piece of rod or wire, the opposite ends 17 of which are fixed within suitable oppositely opening recesses within a cylindrical element 20 located in the horizontal portion 16 of the harp. The element 20 has secured thereto or formed thereon an upwardly projecting threaded portion 21 coaxial with the element 20.

An upwardly projecting element 22 is threadedly fixed 3,281,590 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 to the element 20 by means of the screw 21 and includes at its distal end a ball-shaped portion 25. The ball or ball-shaped portion 25 is received within a socket 26 which opens downwardly and is fixed to an annular twolayered assembly 27 by means of a finial 30. The socket 26 has an upwardly projecting threaded member 31 fixed to the base 32 of the socket. The finial 30 is screwed down tightly on the threads of the screw 31 so as to tightly secure the annual assembly 27 between the members 26 and 30.

Received within the socket 26 between the ball 25 and the base 32'of the socket is a ball bearing assembly 35. The race 36 of the assembly engages the base 32 of the socket 26 while the balls 37 engage the ball 25. It can be appreciated that the socket 26 is freely rotatable upon the ball 25 by reason of the ball bearing assembly 35. The shade 11 has its center of gravity well below the connection of the socket 26 and the ball 25 whereby movement of the shade 11 away from its coaxially located position relative to the lamp (FIG. 1) and releasing of the lamp shade causes gravity to return the lamp shade to the position of FIG. 1.

The lamp shade, of course, includes radially inwardly projecting spokes 40 which are fixed at their outer ends 41 to the lamp shade and at their inner ends to the annular assembly 27. The spokes 40 may be received between the layers 45 of the assembly 27 as suggested in FIG. 3 and may be Welded to the assembly 27 or otherwise fixed thereto for the purpose of providing a relatively rigid lamp shade assembly including the lamp shade itself, the spokes 40 and the annular assembly 27 Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated, said alternative embodiment being identical to the embodiment of FIG. 3 as regards the lamp and shade construction but differing in the respect that the spokes are fixed at their inner ends to an integral annular member 101. A ball 102 is fixed to the annular member 101 by a finial 105 which threadedly receives the threaded portion 106 extending through an internally threaded disc 107 having a knurled outer surface.

The harp 110 includes the cylindrical member 111 with the opposite ends 112 of the long rod 115 being received Within suitable oppositely opening recesses in the cylinder 111. A socket 116 is secured to the member 111 by means of a screw 117 which extends through the base 120 of the socket 116. Both the socket 116 of FIG. 4 and the socket 26 of FIG. 3 have an inwardly converging distal end portion 121 which prevents the ball 102 and 25, respectively, from exiting from its respective socket.

The arrangement of FIG. 4 operates in similar fashion to that of FIG. 3 to return the lamp shade to the coaxially located relationship of FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the center of gravity of the lamp shade is located well below the ball and socket connection to facilitate the return of the lamp shade to its coaxial position. Also, the connection between the ball 102 and the socket 116 is a freely rotatable one to permit the above mentioned operation.

Referring to FIG. 5, still a further alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated which is identical to the above described embodiments of FIGS. 1-3 with the following exceptions. The spokes 200 of FIG. 5 are secured at their inner ends 201 to an annular member 202 having its inner periphery secured by welding or other suitable means to the outer surface of a conical section 205 of sheet material. The section or cone 205 has a flat circular member 206 fixedly secured thereto adjacent the larger end 207 thereof and with the flat circular member 206 coaxial of the cone 205 and perpendicular to the axis 210 thereof. The harp 211 includes the cylindrical element 212 which fixedly receives the opposite ends 215 of the elongated rod 216.

An upright cylindrical projection 217 is coaxially located relative to the cylinder 212 and fixedly mounts a member 220 including a conically shaped distal end 221.

In the embodiment illustrated, the distal end 221 is not integral With the member 220 but instead is fixed upon elongated cylindrical portion 222 which forms a shank. The pointed distal end 221 has an apex angle which is less than the apex angle of the sheet member 205 and thus the sheet member 295 is freely pivotal or swingable relative to the member 221. The member 221 is larger than the opening 225 through which the shank 222 projects so that the section of sheet material 2G5 cannot easily be knocked oif of the pointed portion 221.

The embodiment of FIG. operates in similar fashion to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the center of gravity of the shade is located below the coupling between the member 221 and the member 205 and is located on the axis 210 so as to return the shade 11 to a coaxial relationship when it is moved therefrom.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides a lamp shade holder which is self-adjusting and which maintains or returns the shade of the lamp to an esthetically pleasing, upright position when it is knocked or moved from that position.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a lamp shade holder, a harp including a horizontally extending portion, an upwardly projecting element extending from said horizontal portion and having a conically shaped pointed upper distal end and a reduced sized shank, a cone shaped section of sheet material, a flat circular element secured to said cone shaped section at right angles to the axis thereof and secured to said section adjacent the base end thereof, said flat circular element hav ing a central circular opening therethrough, a lamp shade having a plurality of radial inwardly extending spokes at the upper end thereof with their inner ends secured to said cone shaped section, said projecting element extending through the circular opening of said circular element with the pointed end thereof engaging the apex of said cone shape and the shank positioned within said opening, said distal end being larger than said opening to retain said section on said projecting element, said cone shaped section diverging at a greater apex angle than said projecting element whereby said cone shaped section can swing from side to side, said lamp shade having its center of gravity below the point of engagement of said projecting element and said cone shaped element.

2. In a lamp shade holder, a harp, an upright element threadedly secured to said harp, said upright element having a ball at its upper distal end, a lamp shade, a downwardly opening socket secured to said lamp shade, said socket including a lip portion which extends over said ball and prevents said ball from coming out of said socket, said socket having internal surfaces which are spaced from the outer surfaces of said ball a suflicient distance to permit free rotation of said ball relative to said socket, said lamp shade having its center of gravity a sufiicient distance below said ball and socket connection and said ball and socket having a sufliciently small amount of friction relative to each other that said lamp shade hangs with said center of gravity at its lowest position relative to said harp.

3. In a lamp shade holder, a harp including a horizontally extending portion, an upright element threadedly secured to said horizontal portion of said harp, said upright element having a ball at its upper distal end, a lamp shade having a plurality of radial inwardly extending spokes at the upper end thereof, a downwardly opening socket secured to the inner ends of said spokes, a ball bearing race with bearings received within said socket, said socket receiving said ball with the ball bearings engaging said ball and facilitating relative rotation of said ball and socket, said lamp shade having its center of gravity below the engagement of said ball and said ball bearings, said socket having walls which converge inwardly at their distal end to retain said ball.

4. In a lamp shade holder, at harp, an upwardly opening socket secured to said harp and projecting upwardly therefrom, a lamp shade, a ball having a screw extending therefrom, said screw being secured to said lamp shade, said ball being received within said socket, said socket including a lip portion which extends over said ball and prevents said ball from coming out of said socket, said socket having internal surfaces which are spaced from the outer surfaces of said ball a sufficient distance to permit free rotation of said ball relative to said socket, said lamp shade having its center of gravity a sufficient distance below said ball and socket connection and said ball and socket having a sufliciently small amount of friction relative to each other that said lamp shade hangs with said center of gravity at its lowest position relative to said harp.

5. In a lamp shade holder, a harp including a horizontally extending portion, an upwardly opening socket secured to said horizontal portion and projecting upwardly therefrom, a lamp shade having a plurality of radial inwardly extending spokes at the upper end thereof, an annular element having a vertical axis and secured to the inner ends of said spokes at the axis of said shade, a ball having a screw extending therefrom, said screw projecting through said annular element, a finial threadedly received on said screw and securing said ball to said annular element, said ball being received within said socket, said socket including a lip portion which extends over said ball and prevents said ball from coming out of said socket, said socket having internal surfaces which are spaced from the outer surfaces of said ball a sufncient distance to permit free rotation of said ball relative to said socket, said lamp shade having its center of gravity a sufficient distance below said ball and socket connection and said ball and socket having a sufliciently small amount of friction relative to each other that said lamp shade hangs with said center of gravity at its lowest position relative to said harp.

6. In a lamp shade holder, at harp, a lamp shade, a ball element, a socket element having said ball element received therein, said socket element including a lip portion which extends over said ball element and prevents said ball element from coming out of said socket element, one of said elements being secured to said harp and the other to said lamp whereby said lamp shade is mounted on said harp, said socket element having internal surfaces which are spaced from the outer surfaces of said ball element a sufficient distance to permit free rotation of said ball element relative to said socket element, said lamp shade having its center of gravity a sufficient distance below said ball and socket connection and said ball element and socket element having a sufficiently small amount of friction relative to each other that said lamp shade hangs with said center of gravity at its lowest position relative to said harp.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,762,189 6/1930 Noe 240-144 X 2,008,791 7/1935 Levy 24010.l 2,063,504 12/ 1936 Hornwitt et al 240-l08 2,398,974 4/1946 Storm 240-49 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

C. R. RHODES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LAMP SHADE HOLDER, A HARP INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING PORTION, AN UPWARDLY PROJECTING ELEMENT EXTENDING FROM SAID HORIZONTAL PORTION AND HAVING A COINCALLY SHAPED POINTED UPPER DISTAL END AND A REDUCED SIZED SHANK, A CONE SHAPED SECTION OF SHEET MATERIAL, A FLAT CIRCULAR ELEMENT SECURED TO SAID CONE SHAPED SECTION AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS THEREOF AND SECURED TO SAID SECTION ADJACENT THE BASE END THEREOF, SAID FLAT CIRCULAR ELEMENT HAVING A CENTRAL CIRCULAR OPENING THERETHROUGH, A LAMP SHADE HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIAL INWARDLY EXTENDING SPOKES AT THE UPPER END THEREOF WITH THE INNER ENDS SECURED TO SAID CONE SHAPED SECTION, SAID PROJECTION ELEMENT EXTENDING THROUGH THE CIRCULAR OPENING OF SAID CIRCULAR ELEMENT WITH THE POINTED END THEREOF ENGAGING THE APEX OF SAID CONE SHAPE AND THE SHANK POSITIONED WITHIN SAID OPENING, SAID DISTAL END BEING LARGER THAN SAID OPENING TO RETAIN SAID SECTION ON SAID PROJECTING ELEMENT, SAID CONE SHAPED SECTION DIVERGING AT A GREATER APEX ANGLE THAN SAID PROJECTING ELEMENT WHEREBY SAID CONE SHAPED SECTION CAN SWING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, SAID LAMP SHAPE SECTION CAN OF GRAVITY BELOW THE POINT OF ENAGEMENT OF SAID PROJECTING ELEMENT AND SAID CONE SHAPED ELEMENT. 